Russia wants Hague tribunal closed over Bosnian Muslim acquittal

European Friends of Serbia

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Russia is demanding the closure of the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague over the “biased” acquittal of Bosnian Muslim Naser Oric, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia last Thursday overturned a conviction against Oric, 41, a former commander of Bosnian Muslim forces, who had been found guilty in 2006 of failing to prevent the murder and torture of Bosnian Serbs in 1992-1993.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters: “this verdict is yet another proof of the lack of impartiality in the work of the tribunal, a demonstration of a prejudiced attitude to some of the accused and a lenient attitude to other participants in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.”

“The tribunal’s decision merely confirms the need to swiftly implement the agreed strategy for shutting down its work,” he said.

The Hague court ruled that despite ample proof that war crimes against Serbs were committed, the individual case against Oric, considered a hero by many Bosnian Muslims for defending the town of Srebrenica and the surrounding area, lacked evidence.

Bosnian Serbs say that forces led by Oric killed more than 3,000 Serbs in the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, during which Serb forces massacred around 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica.

Russia’s view reflects that of its ally Serbia, which last week condemned the ruling on Oric, saying it damaged the tribunal’s credibility.

U.S. may secretly deploy ballistic missiles in Poland – expert

The U.S. may station intermediary and shorter-range ballistic missiles in Poland under the guise of interceptors, a Russian expert said Thursday.

Moscow has strongly opposed the possible deployment by the United States of 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as a threat to its security and nuclear deterrent. Washington says the defenses are needed to deter possible strikes from “rogue states.”

Alexander Pikayev, head of the disarmament and conflict resolution department at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations, said there is no way of verifying that the U.S. will really deploy interceptor missiles with conventional warheads.

“These missiles look very much like intermediary and shorter-range ballistic missiles,” he said.

Visa woes may force 30 TNK-BP experts to leave Russia this month

Around 30 foreign specialists working at TNK-BP will have to leave Russia by July 30 when their visas expire, the Russian representative of British oil major BP said Thursday.

The Russian-British joint venture TNK-BP is embroiled in a shareholder conflict in which BP and its Russian billionaire co-owners have clashed over strategy, management and control of the company.

U.S. missile shield in Europe bad for all sides

RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Romanov

The United States and the Czech Republic have signed an agreement on the deployment of a missile tracking radar.

Theoretically the Czech parliament could refuse to ratify the document, or the new U.S. administration could change its worldview, or Congress could refuse to approve allocations. But the likelihood of any of these things happening is almost zero.

The deal is as good as done, and Russia should now draw conclusions from it.

First, it has failed to convince the Untied States, the European Union, NATO and the West as a whole that this is a dangerous and wrong decision. Worse still, its failure to do so was predictable.

Russia played a losing game forced on it by its opponents. Why? The only explanation that comes to mind is that it wanted future historians to say, “Moscow was right.” However, it could have argued its position and used the efforts and money it spent trying to dissuade Washington from this course more effectively in other, more promising foreign policy avenues.

Su-35, a younger son of Su-27

RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik

The first demonstration fight of the Su-35 on July 7, 2008 attracted much attention to this aircraft, which has been undergoing tests since February. The latest addition to the large T-10 (Su-27) family is to become the interim fighter for the Russian Air Force before fifth-generation aircraft are launched into mass production.

The Su-35, more precisely the Su-35BM, is the second model of the T-10 family to carry that designation. The first Su-35 was manufactured 20 years ago, taking to the skies in 1988 under the designation Su-27M.

In 1991, it was decided to launch the Su-27M into mass production under the designation Su-35. The first serial aircraft took off in April 1992, though this model was never produced in large numbers. Due to the lack of funding between 1992 and 1995, only 12 Su-35’s were delivered to the Air Force. These aircraft have been used for tests and demonstration flights.

Russia’s uranium breakthrough

RIA Novosti commentator Tatyana Sinitsyna

Russia has overtaken Niger to become the world’s fourth largest uranium producer, after Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan. Russia received its new rating in 2007, when it produced 3,527 tons of uranium.

It has ambitious plans to mover even further up the league, based on promising deposits in Eastern Siberia and other regions, and opportunities for mutually advantageous cooperation with countries rich in uranium ore.

Reincarnation of Chakra

RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik

The leasing by India of a Project 971 nuclear submarine built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is the latest hot news.

The agreement, whose significance for Russian-Indian cooperation has yet to be assessed, could have a profound impact on the balance of forces in the region.

Russia’s role in creating the Indian submarine fleet is hard to overestimate – Soviet/Russian-built vessels have been its core since the 1970s. Of the current 16 Indian submarines on duty, 12 were built in the Soviet Union or Russia, including two 641 Project and ten 877EKM Project submarines (NATO reporting names Foxtrot and Kilo). The four other submarines are German Project 209 diesel SSs, which India built under license.

Combined with a strong surface force and aircraft, this submarine fleet gives India control of the adjacent seas and makes it the strongest naval power in South Asia. But, with broad ocean expanses to cover, the Indian top brass have always wanted a force capable of operating away from home. Its surface component must have large combat ships, such as aircraft carriers, and its submarine fleet must include nuclear-powered vessels.

Russia’s new main battle tank to enter service ‘after 2010′

Russia’s armed forces will start receiving new-generation tanks superior to the famed T-90 main battle tank (MBT) “after 2010,” a government official said on Thursday.

At present, there are over 25,000 MBTs in service with the Russian Ground Forces. However, relatively modern T-80 and T-90 models account for only 30 percent of the current fleet of tanks and even these tanks require constant upgrades to incorporate modern weaponry, protection and electronics systems.

“The T-90 MBT will be the backbone of the armored units until 2025. T-72’s and T-80’s will not be modernized and will be eventually replaced by new-generation tanks, which will start entering service after 2010,” Sergei Mayev, head of the Federal Service for Defense Contracts (Rosoboronzakaz) told a news conference.

The new-generation MBT, which still does not have a designation, will feature better firepower, maneuverability, electronics and armor protection than the T-90 MBT. Its speed will increase from 30-50 kph to 50-65 kph (19-31 mph to 31-40 mph).

According to some sources, the new tank may be equipped with a 152-mm smoothbore gun capable of firing guided missiles with a range of 6,000-7,000 meters.

In comparison, the T-90 MBT has a 125-mm 2A46M smoothbore gun, which can fire AT-11 Sniper anti-tank guided missiles with a range of 4,000 meters.

Russia starts large-scale naval exercise in the Pacific

Over 20 combat and auxiliary ships from Russia’s Pacific Fleet started on Tuesday a large-scale naval exercise in the Sea of Japan, which includes live firing drills, a fleet spokesman said.

“The exercise is part of the summer combat training program,” Captain 1st Rank Roman Martov said. “More than 20 combat and auxiliary ships will participate in about 20 individual and group drills.”

The core of the naval task force participating in the exercise consists of the Varyag, a Russian Slava-class missile cruiser dubbed ‘the killer of aircraft carriers,’ the Bystry, a Sovremenny class destroyer, and a group of missile boats.

According to the exercise scenario, the Russian naval task force and shore-based naval aircraft are tasked with the search and destruction of an ‘aggressor force’ attempting to establish a beachhead on the Russian coast.

The ships will conduct a series of live firing drills against ground, surface, and air targets.

During the exercise, the Varyag and the Bystry will test-fire new surface-to-air missiles at a target drone.

Russian Air Force may receive fifth-generation fighter in 2013

Russia is expecting a new fifth-generation fighter to enter service in 2013, the Air Force commander said on Monday. “We will begin test flights [of the new fighter] in 2009, and hope to receive the aircraft in 2013,” Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said.

The new fighter aircraft, tentatively designated as the Sukhoi PAK FA or T-50, will be built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft manufacturing plant in Russia’s Far East.

The T-50 fighter, equipped with two powerful engines with thrust vectoring, will feature high maneuverability and stealth to ensure air superiority and precision in destroying ground and sea targets.

Some experts believe the PAK FA fighter has been designed to be comparable to both the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

It will eventually replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighters in the Russian Air Force and will be exported to other countries.

Outside View: Russian arms plans — Part 2

It is easy to understand why Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said he is considering ending Russia’s arms production cooperation with the former Soviet republic of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s uncertain policy, its possible membership in the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its anti-Russian rhetoric force Russian leadership to seek other options.

But does Russia need to hurry? The companies fulfilling Russian orders are located in eastern Ukraine, a territory whose population is set firmly against NATO membership. Without backing from this industrialized region, Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO any time in the near future.

Self-reliance on armaments is a good thing, but partnership is necessary, too. Should the Russian government sever industrial cooperation on cruise missiles, we might lose contracts for the production of components for RS-20 — NATO designation SS-18 Satan — strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles as well. For the RS-20 ICBMs are the linchpin of Russia’s nuclear deterrence. Russian-Ukrainian Sea Launch space cooperation and much else could suffer.

Outside View: Russian arms plans – Part 1

by Andrei Kislyakov
Moscow (UPI) Jul 2, 2008

Military-technical cooperation with the West and with other nations: does Russia need it? Although sounding rhetorical, the question highlights one of the current weaknesses of Russia’s defense industry.
In mid-June, four-star General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, the newly appointed chief of the General Staff of Russia, speaking at the Eurosatory 2008 defense exhibition in Paris, said, “Starting in 2011 we will begin formulating a new armament program through 2020.” The program, Makarov said, “should coordinate the development of all Russian weapons and equipment.”

Makarov defined his mission at the Paris exhibition as “watching the direction of the world, minimizing possible mistakes and following the trends of the 2020s and 2030s.”

The world — and the 27 nations of the European Union in particular — is moving toward international cooperation and abandoning the practice of each state developing and manufacturing its own weapon systems. The Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, or OCCAR, has served this purpose for almost 10 years in Europe.

Russia Defense Watch: Missile engine offer

Despite strained political relations, Ukraine is still trying to sell new advanced missile engines to Russia. Motor Sich, described as the main company in Ukraine making aircraft and missile engines, is seeking a new contract to produce a new, more efficient engine for Russia’s cruise missiles, already the fastest and most effective in the world.
“We have developed a new engine for cruise missiles in service with the Russian armed forces,” Vyacheslav Boguslayev, chief executive officer of Motor Sich, said Saturday, RIA Novosti reported. “It features less weight, better fuel efficiency and is as powerful as the current P95-300 engine. We have offered to manufacture this engine for the Russian armed forces.

Russia warns US over missile defence

Russia and the United States escalated a feud over a planned US missile defence shield Wednesday, with President Dmitry Medvedev threatening countermeasures if Washington builds the disputed system.
With the ink barely dry on a deal for the Czech Republic to host part of the controversial US system, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed Moscow’s dismay.

“We are most distressed by this situation,” he told reporters at the end of the Group of Eight summit in Japan.

“Russia isn’t going to get hysterical but will be studying countermeasures,” Medvedev said, just two days after US President George W. Bush hailed him as “a smart guy” who means what he says.

Medvedev warned the installation of the shield could diminish his country’s deterrent capacity. But at the same time, the Russian leader said, “We are not opposed to further negotiations.”

Rokot Carrier With Three Military Satellites Blasts Off From Plesetsk

A Russian Rokot carrier rocket with three military satellites and one civilian satellite has been successfully launched from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia, the Russian Space Forces said on Friday.

The Rokot launch vehicle, developed by the state-run Khrunichev Center, is a modification of the RS-18 (SS-19 Mod.1 Stiletto) two-stage ballistic missile that is being decommissioned from Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces.

The rocket is designed to put spacecraft weighing less than two tons into near-earth orbits.